Tag: Harlesden

In an extraordinary leaflet delivered to residents in Brent today, Brent Central Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather really insults the intelligence of the people of Brent.

The leaflet in newspaper format is produced by the Liberal Democrats and is called Brent News. The imprint is barely visible. On the front page of the leaflet, the main story attacks Mayor of London Boris Johnson for the proposed Police Station closures at Harlesden and Willesden. This is despite the fact that Sarah Teather voted to cut police numbers LINK

In addition, it is claimed that “Brent News is fully behind Sarah’s campaign to save our stations”. Wait a minute….. a Sarah Teather publication is behind Sarah Teather’s campaign????

Does Sarah Teather think that people in Brent are stupid and would think this is a Brent non-party political neutral publication?

The Liberal Democrat published ‘Brent News’ also claims to have an exclusive interview with Sarah Teather MP.

It was disappointing to see local MP Sarah Teather “saddened” at the Council’s plans to regenerate Willesden High Road. The new Library and Cultural Centre will be a major Civic building in the southern part of Brent and a major boost to the regeneration of the area for business, shops and residents.

Both Willesden Bookshop and BIAS will be assisted by the Council to find alternative accommodation in the High Road, in one of the many empty shops. The Council has also approved a detailed interim delivery strategy for the Library, Museum and Archive during the rebuilding period. The Customer contact point will be temporarily re located to the Job Centre in Harlesden a short bus ride away. Adequate study space is being planned at a number of locations in the vicinity. Local Liberal democrat Councillors are very supportive of the plans and see the potential long term benefits for the area.

What is of more interest is the deafening silence from Sarah Teather at the devastating news that London Mayor Boris Johnson has rejected Brent’s bid for 1.6 million pounds to continue the regeneration work in Willesden. Last year the Council implemented a very successful project “New Windows on Willesden”. The rejected Brent bid was for this project to continue during 2012. I hope the Brent Central MP will join me and Navin Shah Brent London Assembly member in asking Boris Johnson to reconsider Brent’s bid.

With three no. 1 albums, and two no. 1 singles which are in the UK Top 10 all-time best-selling singles list, Boney M were not only successful in UK, but also massive across Europe, Asia, and even had the odd hit in the US! Singer and now also a reverend Liz Mitchell returns on home ground to recall her life changing experience as a Harlesden, Brent girl who in 1976 joined disco record producer Frank Farian’s Germany-based Boney M group.

This is a rare opportunity to hear behind the scenes stories of one of the biggest and enduring pop groups ever. It’s a family-friendly event, where the audience will have an opportunity to ask Liz questions. In association with Brent Libraries.

The event’s preceded by the Brent Black Music History (BBMHP) Quiz, and ends with the BBM Sound System’s ‘Brent Mix’ session. Remember: you can borrow the BBMHP DVDs or books from Brent, and selected outside borough, libraries.

Last month I blogged on an increase in incidents of gold chain snatching LINK.

The Willesden and Brent Times are reporting that two people have been sentenced for robbery in a police crackdown on thieves who snatch valuable jewellery from people walking by.

Brent police launched a massive undercover operation in August to find and arrest thieves who were grabbing gold chains from the necks of innocent victims.

The operation was launched in response to an unprecedented crime wave of jewellery muggings with some 90 reported in 12 weeks. Church Road market in Dudden Hill Ward, and Ealing Road market in Wembley, were flagged up as particular hotspots although as my article says, incidents were not restricted to these two areas.

In the first case, a 14-year-old youth from Harlesden, was sentenced to a six month parenting order and a supervision referral order for 12 months at Brent Youth Court for attempted robbery. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, followed a woman, 47, as she walked home in Neasden.

As she turned into Denzil Road, the youth stopped her and asked for the time. He then grabbed her by the neck and left shoulder and threw her to the floor before trying to pull a gold chain from her neck. Passers by heard her scream and ran over to help.

Fortunately, officers were nearby and stopped the 14-year-old from running off. He was arrested for robbery. He later pleaded guilty at court.

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Detective Sergeant, Mark Fletcher, from the Priority Crime Unit, said: “This suspect was arrested as a result of public spirited citizens and police coming to the assistance of a lone female who was being subjected to a cowardly attack.

“Brent police are dedicated to pro-actively patrolling the streets, looking for suspects concerned in robbery offences. We will continue this positive action in order to identify, arrest and convict robbery offenders.”

Anyone driving from Blackbird Hill towards the direction of Willesden and Harlesden would have noticed that for a while, there have been no lights towards the Neasden roundabout approach. It is now becoming a joke, as it has not been rectified for months now. I have reported it and so has Willesden Green Councillor Lesley Jones.

Following extensive lobbying by Brent Labour councillors and local Labour MPs Dawn Butler and Barry Gardiner, the Labour government has agreed to provide an additional £80 million under its ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme. This means that secondary schools in the borough will be rebuilt or expanded as part of the government’s programme to modernise all secondary schools. Those programmed in the first phase are Alperton, Cardinal Hinsley in Harlesden, Queen’s Park Community School (which is to be expanded) and Copland School in Wembley.

Labour’s Education Spokesperson, Councillor Mary Arnold, said:

“Once again our Labour government has put its money where its mouth is and invested in education. In recent years, the Labour government has given Brent the second highest increase school budgets in the entire country and now they are giving us this huge additional capital investment to improve the fabric of our schools. Before Labour came to power, Brent school students were taught in overcrowded classrooms sometimes with leaking roofs and in some cases in corridors. That situation has massively improved under Labour and this new money gives us the chance to ensure that every Brent child receives a first class education in modern schools with state of the art facilities”.

The ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme allows for expansion as well as modernisation and Labour fears that the Lib Dem/Tory council may use the money merely to expand schools rather than modernise them. They have so far failed to rebuild primary schools despite receiving the money from the government to do so and their failure to take urgent action when they came to power four years ago has resulted in a critical shortage of school places.

Following a summer break, Brent Council now has upcoming Area Consultation Forums (ACFs) in areas around Brent.

There are five Area Consultative Forums to give local people a say about the issues which matter to them. At each meeting, residents, businesses and community representatives are able to raise questions about services provided by the council and other agencies in Brent. Chaired by a Councillor, each area forum meeting is open to the public and is held during a weekday evening in an accessible venue.

At each meeting, there is also a ‘Soapbox slot‘ for residents to express their views and concerns about issues that affects them directly or indirectly. You may attend any forum meeting of your choice.

More information on the five forums

Take a look at each area forum page for more information including: venue, minutes from previous meetings plus dates & times of future meetings.

Whilst there is still room for improvement when it comes to actual public input for implementation, the forum still provides a useful avenue in which to collect information and know about what is happening in your area.

Disclaimer

The content on this site is edited, managed and controlled by Krupesh Hirani. They are not representative of any associated organisations unless specified. No public funds have been used for this website.
Promoted by Rob Grover, on behalf of Brent Labour Party's candidates for Dudden Hill Ward at Pavitt Hall, Union Road, Wembley, HA0 4AU